amuse myself I looked over her album. There I found your portrait,
and--well, it interested me, and I asked the name of the
original."

Hilliard was now in command of himself; he spoke with simple
directness, as his desires dictated.

"And Mrs. Brewer," said Eve, with averted eyes, "told you about me?"

"She spoke of you as her daughter's friend," was the evasive answer.
Eve seemed to accept it as sufficient, and there was a long silence.

"My name is Hilliard," the young man resumed. "I am taking the first
holiday, worth speaking of, that I have known for a good many years.
At Dudley my business was to make mechanical drawings, and I can't
say that I enjoyed the occupation."

"Are you going back to it?"

"Not just yet. I have been in France, and I may go abroad again
before long."

"For your pleasure?" Eve asked, with interest.

"To answer 'Yes' wouldn't quite express what I mean. I am learning
to live."

She hastily searched his face for the interpretation of these words,
then looked away, with grave, thoughtful countenance.